UNK TODAY
26 | Saturday, August 24, 2024
ASK AN ANTELOPE Alber shares passion for music education
tive playing in community band and teaching some high school lessons. I can comfortably play all com- mon band instruments, some better than others. I usually try to play tuba or euphonium each year when UNK hosts Tuba Christmas. What do you love most about your job? The students! I love see- ing how students mature and develop from the first day as freshmen to the day they walk across the stage at commencement. I also love when graduates return to campus and I get to hear about their successes, but also how they are helping other people.
UNK COMMUNICATIONS B rian Alber’s “won- derful” experiences as a student influ- enced his decision to pursue a career as a music educator. The Lincoln native earned a bachelor’s degree in music education from UNK before spreading his love of music as a band teacher for seven years at Nebraska high schools. Some of his stu- dents were also interested in music education careers. “This inspired me to be- come a professor and help prepare the next genera- tion of music educators,” said Alber, who completed a master’s degree in wind band conducting at the University of Nebraska- Lincoln and a doctorate in wind band conducting at the University of Northern Colorado. Now an associate profes- sor of music, graduate pro- gram chair and assistant di- rector of bands at UNK, Al- ber co-directs the Pride of the Plains Marching Band, directs the Symphonic Band and coordinates volleyball and basketball pep bands. He teaches undergradu- ate and graduate courses in music theory, secondary in- strumental methods, music research and the history of American music education. How does your time as a high school teacher inform you as an associate professor? My public school expe- rience has allowed me to share valuable insights into music education along with the benefits and challenges of working with middle and
Brian Alber’s “wonderful” experiences as a student influenced his decision to pursue a career as a music educator. UNK COMMUNICATIONS PHOTOS
Share a fun fact about yourself.
When I was an under- graduate at UNK I used to have shoulder-length hair. Pictures of me still sur- vive in old copies of The Antelope newspaper. My wonderful wife Jessica also works at UNK and we have a cat named Millie. I have one younger sister. I spend way too much time learning French on Duolingo.
application. Teaching stu- dents the necessary musi- cal and educational skills for success, then providing the experiences to apply these skills in a variety of class- room settings. Through this process students gain valuable experience and the
capacity to reflect on these experiences for continued self-improvement. What instruments do you play? Clarinet is my main in- strument and I stay ac-
Nights and weekends
“I love seeing how students mature and develop from the first day as freshmen to the day they walk across the stage at commencement,” Albert said.
Stop in person to apply
high school students. I use stories from these experi- ences in my UNK classes to highlight successes and fail- ures alike. Education is a life- long journey and I want my students to understand the
value of a growth mindset. How do you best prepare students for their futures? A mixture of theory and
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